SEGRO and Barratt London launch Heritage Project with Uxbridge College

SEGRO and Barratt London have launched a heritage project with Uxbridge College, which will see film and media students reaching out to the local community and asking them to share their memories of the former Nestlé factory. The film will be  shown at a community event and mark the beginning of the Our Hayes Our Heritage project which will involve the community of all ages, from primary school to senior citizens.

The £20,000 contribution from SEGRO and Barratt London donated to Uxbridge College, has enabled them to attract further funding from A New Direction, London’s flagship creative and cultural education agency, through the ‘London Cultural Education Challenge’, a programme designed to help build creative places for young people. Uxbridge College students will lead on the project to celebrate the importance of the former Nestle site which is linked by the Grand Union Canal to another historic workplace, the former EMI factory. The students will work with community partners to  create  a community heritage resource which celebrates the past and looks to the future   bringing  the site to life once more through work, living and leisure spaces.

In 2015, SEGRO bought the 30 acre former Nestlé plant in Hayes, and partnered with Barratt London with the aim of delivering 230,000 sq. ft. of modern industrial and urban logistics warehouses as well as over 1,000 homes, subject to planning permission.

The regeneration will be a boost for the Capital as it faces the challenge of building more homes to meet population growth, coupled with creating up to 400 employment opportunities that underpin sustainable communities and business. The project with the college will uncover the importance of the former Nestlé factory site to the community and will aid SEGRO and Barratt London in their plans for the development of the site.

Alan Holland, SEGRO’s Business Unit Director for Greater London, said: “The former Nestlé factory site’s cultural heritage is very important to SEGRO and we have been consulting with the local community on its vision for the site since our plans were put in place, to ensure that it returns to being a vibrant hub of activity. This project will result in a wonderful film which will reinforce how important this site is for the community and will feed into our plans for the development.”

Matt Calladine, Head of Development for Barratt London said: “We are delighted to be working with Uxbridge College to connect with the community of Hayes to develop a film explaining the importance of the former Nestlé factory site. As developers, we understand the history of the site and want to ensure that the community is involved in the development and this project is an excellent way to this.”

Lorraine Collins, Executive Director Enterprise and Development, Uxbridge College: “SEGRO is one of ‘Uxbridge College’s Employer Champions’ – an award given by the college in recognition of their help in providing students with work related opportunities. The latest contribution from SEGRO and Barratt London for £20,000 has enabled the college to attract further match funding from A New Direction. With this funding, the students will be able to create an enduring record celebrating the local heritage of the site and engage the community involvement in plans for the future.”